The Hindu : Sport : Indian federation reprieves Satish Rai

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Indian federation reprieves Satish Rai

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In a startling decision, the Indian Weightlifting Federation has reprieved Satish Rai without even a two-year suspension for his anti-doping rule violation in the National Games at Guwahati last year. The Indian federation Secretary, B.R. Gulati, said on Wednesday that Rai had given an undertaking that he would not be participating in any National competitions in future and thus any ban on him had become irrelevant.

“He made a representation through his lawyer and we — the President, myself and other Executive members — decided not to impose any ban,” said Gulati.

The letter to Rai, reprieving him, was given last month at a time the federation President, Harbhajan Singh, was telling the media that he was seeking legal opinion on the matter.

“The (IWF) President, under his condonation powers, has decided to close the issue as redundant and irrelevant in view of your assurance, notwithstanding merits of the case and your submissions,” said an IWF letter, dated June 13 and signed by its General Secretary B.R. Gulati, according to a PTI report.

Asked whether the committee appointed by the federation President had given its verdict, Gulati said that it was also involved in the final decision.

Second violation

Rai was facing a life ban since the Guwahati offence happened to be his second violation, the first one having come at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. That was for a stimulant while the National Games infraction was for a steroid.

Unable to understand the case, because of the 2002 stimulant that attracted only a six-month suspension, and with little help coming from the International Weightlifting Federation, which was approached to clear the air, the Indian federation dithered over its decision, keeping Rai under provisional suspension.

Gulati contended that the WADA rules stipulating a life ban for a second offence came into effect only from January 2004 and earlier rules did not attract life ban for a second offence. He also argued that a pre-2004 violation could not be considered for a life ban.

Gulati also stressed that his federation had got clarifications from WADA and the latter was in agreement with the interpretation made by his federation.

The federation Secretary also claimed that the IOA was also of the opinion that the matter of Rai should be closed and “we should steer clear of further controversies.” The IOA had disqualified Rai, as it had done with eight others who tested positive at Guwahati, and recommended further action by the federation.

Unheard of

A sportsperson being exonerated for a doping offence in this manner is unheard of. Life bans should be applicable to any second offence, barring cases that come under ‘specified substances’ and substances that are no longer prohibited. The first offence need not be post-2004.

Reeling under regular anti-doping rule violations, suspensions by the IWF and allegations by a foreign coach in recent times about doping being rampant in India, the latest step by the Indian federation should attract further international attention.

The manner in which woman lifter Shailaja Pujari was brought back for the Asian championships in Japan, the inordinate delay in resolving the case of another lifter, Anita Kumari, who was also charged with a doping violation, and the new interpretations of rules now being given will come into focus in the coming days.

The Indian federation has also reprieved Tejinder Singh, one of the two lifters who tested positive at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. That was his second offence, though the first one was in a domestic competition and the tests were done in the non-accredited Delhi laboratory.

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